The Church Bell
Vol. 6, No. 2
April 2022
Palm Sunday: "The Passion of the Lord According to Luke"
Palm Sunday is the beginning of Passion Week. In place of a sermon we read about the Lord's passion in the Gospel According to Luke 22:14 through 23:56. We invite you to listen and reflect as we remember Jesus in the Last Supper, the hours of agony, his arrest, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. As we remember his death, keep in mind that we are also getting ready to proclaim his resurrection. Easter Sunday is coming!
April 14th Maundy Thursday Service
St. Agnes' will host the Community Maundy Thursday Service on April 14th at 6:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday recalls the Last Supper with Jesus in the Upper Room with the Disciples.

The service is so named because the Last Supper is where Jesus gave the New Commandment. (Maundy comes from a Latin word that means "commandment" or "mandate.")

Besides Holy Communion, the service also includes an optional washing of the feet. The conclusion of the service ends with the stripping of the altar to represent how Jesus was stripped of his garments and of his glory at his arrest and trial. The congregation then dismisses in silence to represent the darkness and fear that surrounded Jesus when he agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Maundy Thursday is a very reflective and powerful time of worship that helps bring the reality of Jesus' life, ministry, and crucifixion into our hearts and minds. Come and be part of this very meaningful time of worship.

Parts of the service will also be shared by video through our Facebook and YouTube channel.
Our role as hosts

The Maundy Thursday Service is sponsored by the Cowan Ministerial Association, which represents several area churches who come together for worship, fellowship, and Christian unity.

Because St. Agnes' will be hosting this service, all of us who are St. Agnes' parishioners will need to welcome and engage a larger-than-normal group of visitors.

  • Please welcome and invite others to sit with you for the service.
  • Help those who are unfamiliar with the Book of Common Prayer to find the correct pages and the find the correct pages in The Hymnal as well.
  • Show by example how to engage in our customs, such as kneeling for prayer, exchanging the peace, and receiving the elements of communion.
  • And, when the time comes to strip the altar at the end of the service, we ask all from St. Agnes' who are confident with walking and going up/down steps to assist with the process.

Although there is extra work involved when St. Agnes' hosts this particular service, everybody's hospitality and helpfulness makes this time of worship a memorable time in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 15th Good Friday Service
The various Cowan churches will gather for a shared Good Friday service on April 15th, 12 noon, at Goshen Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Good Friday recalls the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus.

The service is based on the Stations of the Cross as recalled in scripture and shared through the ages by ancient tradition.

Goshen is located at 1262 Williams Cove Road between Cowan and Winchester.
April 17th Easter Sunrise Service - 6:30 a.m.
At 6:30 a.m. on Easter Morning, the various Cowan churches will meet at Cowan Montgomery Cemetery to celebrate the discovery of the Empty Tomb and the glorious news that Jesus is Risen!

The speaker for this joyful gathering will be Rev. Bill Welch, Pastor of First Church of the Nazarene. The service is sponsored by Cowan Ministerial Association.
April 17th Easter Egg Hunt - 10:15 a.m.
Al of the kids in our extended church family are invited to our Sunday morning Easter egg hunt at 10:15 a.m. on the front lawn of the church.

The annual Easter Egg hunt is a tradition started by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Sloan more than five decades ago!
April 17th Easter Sunday Service - 11 a.m.
We will hold a festival service on Easter Sunday at the usual 11:00 hour.

After the service we will gather for our annual church family photo.

Invite your friends and extended family to join us in joyful praise to Jesus who is risen in glory!
Easter lilies and other memorials
Easter lilies are a universal symbol of the glorious Eastertide season.

They originate from lifeless bulbs that are buried in the ground, just as Jesus' dead body was placed in a tomb and sealed. 

Lilies will then suddenly rise up from the ground with life and beauty helping us remember how Jesus rose up from the grave.

The green foliage represents life, the white petals represent purity, and the gold pistil represents kingship.

The flowers are shaped like trumpets, reminding us to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection.

A custom in churches around the world involves bringing Easter lilies to church on Easter Sunday as a memorial to our deceased loved ones. We follow that custom here at St. Agnes'.

  • We invite you to bring a lily to church for Easter. In doing so, please give Jarod the name(s) you are commemorating.

  • In lieu of an Easter lily, we also welcome memorial donations to the New Banner Project, altar guild, or donations toward hymnals, bibles or prayer books. Again, please provide the name(s) you are commemorating.

Regardless of how we choose to honor our loved ones at Easter, we do so in faith and in certain hope of the resurrection. 

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
New Banner Project
Exactly 30 years ago, Kathleen and Alice Black re-activated the Altar Guild at St. Agnes'. Prior to their action, the Altar Guild had been in a disbanded/inactive state for more than a decade.

Prior to the re-activation, the congregation at St. Agnes' went through the 1980's decade with very few seasonal and liturgical enhancements.

Through the hard work of the Altar Guild since 1992, our time together in worship is freshened and enriched by beautiful flowers and adornments each and every Sunday.

One of our most important adornments is the church processional banner that was constructed and revealed in 1993. The banner not only symbolized a revival of the local Altar Guild tradition, but also allowed St. Agnes' to have a more visible and notable presence at the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee.

Year after year, our beautiful banner is seen at the opening of Diocesan Convention along with banners from other congregations in our ecclesiastical fellowship.

To mark these 30 beautiful years of Altar Guild tradition, the congregation voted on January 30th to retire the 1993 banner and procure a new banner to represent the next several years!

At retirement, the 1993 banner will be hung in a permanent display position. The new banner, as soon as it is revealed and dedicated, will go into active use and will be carried in the 2023 Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee.

We hope to receive the new banner by late summer and have it ready for dedication shortly thereafter.
How to Support the Church Banner Project

The procurement of the new banner will involve significant expense due to the cost of materials, design and construction.

To help get the project to completion, we encourage everyone who is able to send a special gift to the Church Banner Project during the Season of Lent or Eastertide.

You can send a check via postal service to:

St. Agnes' Church
Banner Project
PO Box 356
Cowan, TN 37318

Or, on any Sunday in the season, you can place a check in the offering plate and simply write "Banner Project" on the memo line.

If you are placing a cash donation in the offering plate, please use an envelope and write "Banner Project" on the outside.

If your gift is a Memorial or an Honorary, please include the name(s) your are commemorating or honoring.
April 24th Low Sunday Luncheon
On Sunday, April 24th, we will hold a church-wide luncheon following the 11:00 service.

The church will provide chicken tenders and we ask others to bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy.
Updates from members of our family
Please note the following updates and concerns from members of our extended church family:

Mr. Gene Black is going through some cardiac testing and a change in medication. The result is that he feels tired from the procedures, but hopes to feel better soon. Please keep him in your prayers.

Wynona Gibson is pleased to report that Sandi, her daughter, is making strides during her inpatient rehabilitation. She is able to walk now with assistance. Although her mobility is limited, Sandi is gaining strength. Our continuing prayers for her and for David are always appreciated.

Bill Keller has good days and not-so-good days. Of late he has experienced stomach pain, which is where the cancer is located. He has also struggled with seasonal allergies. As soon as he feels well enough, Bill is planning to be in church to worship with his extended family again. We pray that we will see him soon and hope for more good days ahead.

Kathy Owens is still in Florida recovering from surgery due to a serious fall late last year. Thanks be to God, Kathy is reporting a slow and steady recovery.

Rose Pearson struggled through a kidney-related episode in March that required hospitalization and emergency surgery at St. Thomas Rutherford. The surgery was successful and gave her much-needed relief. Since then, Rose underwent an additional surgery and will have one more to go. Fortunately, she is feeling much better and is hoping to have a much better summer!

Kate Summers is recovering from an injury to her arm and wrist. Kate and her parents hope that she will not require surgery and that the fracture will heal on its own.
Get Ahead on Recent Sermons
Take full advantage of our online presence, especially if you are unable to attend services in person.

Here are some of our recent Video Sermons:
Each and every Sunday we post the day's sermon on our Facebook page and on our YouTube channel. These posts are followed by an e-mail with video links to everyone in the congregation who was unable to attend on that particular day.

You can show your support by liking and commenting whenever you see a video sermon on YouTube and/or on Facebook. The more likes and comments we receive the more our posts will be visible to the general public.
Spring Birthdays
April 1 - Randy Patterson
April 7 - Jarod Pearson
April 7 - Montana Smith
April 15 - Dane Leitzel
April 23 - Mandy Summers

May 2 - Ella Grissett
May 4 - Greg Cheek
May 9 - Carla Wilson Money
May 11 - Steve Pearson
May 28 - John N'Goma
May 31 - Kathleen Black


***

"Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand, comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and their hearts may thy peace, which passeth understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
We Uphold in Prayer
Rose Pearson, Stephanie Jellison, Brian Malhoite, Beth Rhoton, Jennifer Boughton, Janet Gass, Sandi Gibson, Richard McCallie, Kathy Owens, Peyton McLaughlin, David Gibson, Randy Hall, Billy Greer, Clint Prince, Dave Myers, Harold Black Jr., Scott James, Wynona Gibson, Steve Pearson, Dick and Mary Ann Austin, Marty Judd, Iris Ellidge, Mary McDonald, Roy Tankersley, Royana Stewart, Bill Keller, Linda Milligan, and Karen McCallie.

We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger.

We pray for those witnessing increasing danger and crime in different areas of the world. We pray especially for God's help and wisdom in the very troublesome situation in the The Ukraine.

We pray for those in our armed service especially Wes Nevels and Anthony Russell.

We bless and commemorate Kevin Hudson who passed into glory.

We pray for the congregation at Christ Church, Tracy City, following a possible arson incident that damaged part of the facility.

***

"O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayer, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sicknesses may be turned into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Sunday Service ....................................11:00 a.m.
Sunday School .....................................10:00 a.m.

Location/Address: 105 England Street E., PO Box 356, Cowan, TN 37318
Telephone: (931) 636-6313
The Rt. Rev'd John C. Bauerschmidt..................Bishop of Tennessee

The Rev'd Dr. Linda Hutton.................................Supply Priest

L. Jarod Pearson.................................................Lay Reader